Bollywood museum to leave tourists starry-eyed

If everything goes as per plan, tourists visiting the city will soon stopover to meet their favourite film stars at a Bollywood Museum that will be set up at Dadasaheb Phalke Film City in Goregaon.

The state government has begun their work of getting approvals in place and hopes to start work on the project by next year.

For the last two years, the state cultural department has been formulating the plan for the museum with a view to boost tourism in the city by encashing on the stardom of Bollywood.

The master plan prepared by the cultural department has brought architect Shashi Prabhu and Warner Johnsons on board to design the museum. Laxmikant Deshmukh, managing director, Film City said, “We have prepared a master plan for the museum which has been approved by our board. This plan we be sent to the government for final approvals.”

The plan includes developing a virtual studio and dissecting various aspects of tinsel town’s glory.  The museum will include monochromatic prints, films made in the Eastman colour format and will explain current techniques used in filmmaking.

The plan includes working with professionals from the film industry to maintain authenticity in the experience.

The cultural department and the state’s tourism department are working together on this project.

According to tourism department officials, the city has limited attractions for the average tourists apart from the heritage structures. With this museum, they hope to tap in on the cinema craze that Mumbai has become synonymous with.

Authorities took the example of Hyderabad, where tourists flock to Ramoji film city.

Sources from cultural department said, “The actual plan is to create a theme park showcasing 50 years of Bollywood. This will attract a large section of tourists, who want to know how a film shoot takes place. This will also help the government earn revenue.”